Redemption

As we get to crunchtime for which Democrat emerges in the top two for CA47, the fight between State Senator Dave Min and Joanna Weiss is stating to get nasty.  I’ve been telling friends all along that Min’s secret weapon is his wife, Jane Stoever.

If, last May after Min was arresred with a DUI, Stoever told him to step down, Min would have.  Jane is not a Tammy Wynette “Stand By Your Man” type of person, but instead one who realized her husband made a mistake that doesn’t fully define him.  She forgave him.  They moved forward together. So when I read quotes from the Weiss camp calling Min a “permanently damaged candidate,” it rubs the wrong way.

For many Min supporters, Weiss refusing to back Min if he won the primary (Costa Mesa Democratic Club candidates forum) only solidifed support for Min.

Stoever posted this note of redemption on Facebook and has given us permission to share:

Because the image of the comment is a JPG, it might be hard to read, so here goes:

“As we approached church shortly after Dave’s DUI last May, I saw Dave hang his head and apologize to a member of our faith community.  Her response was to hug him and say, “Dave, you made a mistake, and you apologized to the world. Now we know you’re human. We’ll just have to work a little harder for you, but we’re with you.”

I’ve held her response in my heart, and I’ve reflected on how her resolute, humane response matches my beliefs.

I believe in taking responsibility and apologizing for wrongs. I try to model this for my children and students; I’m certainly not infallible.

I believe that a person shouldn’t be definedby a mistake, and that one’s darkest moment doesn’t overshadow their good.

I believe in forgiveness.

I believe we are lucky when we get an opportunity to learn from mistakes, and we’re better when we take that gift of a second chance and actually do the work to learn.

I believe in redemption.

These beliefs match what Dave and I teach our children, fit my religious faith, and align with my understanding of Democratic Party values and ethics.

I know first hand Dave’s deep regret and slef-reflection, see how he’s carried through on his public apology with serious action (as noted by the LA Times), and know his DUI will never be repeated. While some have celebrated Dave’s mistake, as shown by the ugly mailers and advertisements being sent from out-of-district to try and make his DUI new news, I have to hope that more people share my beliefs. I also have to check our mail before the kids do – not to keep mailers from them but to talk to them about what’s being disseminated, by whom, and why and dark money Super PACs behind her are doing this.

The CA Democratic Party, all of the teachers’ unions, Labor, environmental groups – and even all of law enforcement – all endorsed Dave after his DUI. joning Katie Porter and hundrds of other supporters. As painful as Dave’s mistake was, I’m proud of how he’s reponded, his career of public service, and his first-in-the-world legislation that’s making a difference throughout California, which is actual news.”

(typos here are mine)